Don Loftus opened the FiFi awards by recalling that in 1973, the first year that the FiFis were presented, just seven trophies were handed out; now the award count exceeds 20.

“A lot has changed since then, but not our spirit and creativity,” he told the audience. “Our category is the envy of the consumer product industry.”

Vera Wang received the Hall of Fame award. Ms. Wang was chosen by The Fragrance Foundation’s board of directors for her extraordinary ingenuity and dedication, which has contributed not only to her company’s success, but to the fragrance industry as a whole.

Ms. Wang opened her flagship store on Manhattan’s famed Madison Avenue in 1990, introducing fashion to the bridal industry with revolutionary designs and refined detailing. Since then she has expanded her collections to include ready-to-wear, contemporary sportswear, evening wear, intimate apparel, footwear, eyewear, china and crystal, silver and gifts, fine paper, mattresses, her first book, Vera Wang On Weddings, and fragrance. Vera Wang has introduced many successful fragrances, such as Vera Wang, Sheer Veil, Bouquet and Truly Pink fragrances, as well as the most recent introduction of Vera Wang Princess and Flower Princess.